§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of acute beds in National Health Service hospitals. [111324]
§ Mr. DenhamThe latest figures show that there are 108,000 acute beds in the National Health Service. We are currently consulting through the National Beds Inquiry on the future number and balance of acute and other beds in the NHS system.
§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) general and (b) acute NHS hospital beds there were at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in each year from 1992; and if he will make a statement. [111443]
§ Mr. DenhamThe average daily number of available beds for the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital NHS Trust was:
Year Acute General and acute 1998–99 375 417 1997–98 354 393 1996–97 400 441 1995–96 384 424 1994–95 411 451 Note:
The earliest data available for the trust is 1994–95, and the latest available data are for 1998–99. 'General and Acute' is defined as Acute plus Geriatric.
Source:
Annual Korner return KHO3 'bed availability and occupancy'
The data show annual fluctuations in the number of available beds. The most recent data show an increase in the number of available 'acute' and 'general and acute' beds in comparison to the previous year.
§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) general and (b) acute NHS hospital beds there were (i) nationally and (ii) in Shropshire in 1998 and 1999; and if he will make a statement. [111444]
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§ Mr. DenhamStatistics on hospital bed numbers are published in the annual publication "Bed availability and occupancy—England", copies of which are in the Library. Latest figures are for 1998–99.